Photos of the day: 12/25

Photos of the day: 12/25

U.S. Maj. Gen. James C. McConville, left, poses with soldiers at Camp Clark during a Christmas visit in Khost province, eastern Afghanistan. The commander of NATO forces in eastern Afghanistan spent Christmas visiting U.S. troops at bases across the mountainous region to bring them holiday greetings and gifts for a few lucky soldiers. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pope Francis delivers his Christmas message from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday. Pope Francis is wishing for a better world, with peace for the land of Jesus’ birth, for Syria and Africa as well as for the dignity of migrants and refugees fleeing misery and conflict. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

An Israeli soldier stands near an Iron Dome anti-missile battery system, on the far left, near the southern city of Sderot, Israel. Israeli air and ground forces launched a series of attacks Tuesday on targets across the Gaza Strip, killing a young girl and wounding several in response to the deadly shooting of an Israeli civilian by a Palestinian sniper. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Egyptians attend the funeral of a dozen policeman and a civilian killed from an explosion at a police headquarters, in the Nile Delta city of Mansoura, 110 kilometers (70 miles) north of Cairo, Egypt. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

People, in a viewpoint of a cliffside, look at waves breaking against rocks at the Nazare lighthouse, outside the fishing village of Nazare, central coast of Portugal. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Children enjoying a ride on a merry-go-round during a Christmas Day walk in Warsaw, Poland. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A U.S. soldier with the NATO- led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) poses for photograph at a religious ceremony on Christmas in Logar province, eastern Afghanistan. The commander of NATO forces in eastern Afghanistan spent Christmas visiting U.S. troops at bases across the mountainous region to bring them holiday greetings and gifts for a few lucky soldiers. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photos of the day: 12/25

People, in a viewpoint of a cliffside, look at waves breaking against rocks at the Nazare lighthouse, outside the fishing village of Nazare, central coast of Portugal. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS